Hi, I’ve never met Harry O’Brien or Heretier Lumumba…and I used to have high regard for him as an elite athlete, a champion footballer and a concerned citizen of the world…
However, the way he closed his apparent case against Nathan Buckley and the Collingwood Football Club doesn’t seem right. By leaking his highly edited version of a private conversation between himself and Buckley indicates, regardless of legal issues, that he just wants his side of the case to be heard and taken as gospel.
His case alleging racism and other misconduct in his time at the club…I think, with hindsight, seems to be a case against society and its behaviour at the time and the rate of change that is specific to Harry’s value system. Collingwood might be the target of his vitriol and hatred…but it seems that society in general is where his beef lies. It’s all understandable I guess…his rage and animosity never seemed to be an issue during his playing days until he transferred clubs to Melbourne.
Slowly, but surely, the well-documented case now is diminishing in terms of its potential as an agent for change within the AFL, other sporting codes and society due to its rather contrived end. I wish him well and I hope he finds the support he needs, like anyone in genuine need of assistance.
However he seems now to have trashed his own brand. And that’s a shame…
Round 9: When is an elbow to the head acceptable conduct by any player at any level?
Adam Treloar must love playing Collingwood, his partial paymasters. 35 stats and 3 goals certainly worthy of the Rose-Sutton Medal. Unfortunately, the flus and colds had wiped out the Collingwood playing list to a large degree. Dogs found some touch, especially in the 1st quarter. 6.5 to 1.3 at quarter time. The Dogs were never headed. Bazlenka 41 led many Dogs ballwinners. Crisp 24, highest Pie. Buku 3. Bevo’s Bullies by 48 points.
An errant elbow by Tom Lynch to Jarman Impey’s head will probably be what this game will be remembered for I’d suspect. Hawks were shown up a bit by the resurgent Tigers. The Hawks started well and led at quarter time only to overtaken by the Tigers in the 2nd. Dusty 3 goals and 2 points helped force a solid 23 point win. Tigers class shines thru after the main break. Tigers 8.10 to 6.5 saving Hawks from a greater loss.
Two quarter effort was what summarised the Roos in Hobart against Port Power. Maybe that’s what was to be expected before the Powerful got on top. Resting rookie Hornet, the Roos were competitive in the middle quarters, Port kicked 6 in the 1st and in the last to open the floodgates on the way to a 69 point win. Bull Zurhaar 3.4, Georgiades and Marshall 3. Wines 32, Jedi 26 for North led the stats count.
Saints Alive! The Cats were taken aback when the Saints got going to turn a 20 point 1/2time deficit into a 16 point 3/4 time lead and eventually a 10 point win. To prove the bona fides as a finalist, Crouch, Gresham and Sinclair got the stats, whilst Paddy Ryder provided the spark with 3 goals and 22 hitouts, working in tandem with Marshall. Cats’ 1st half dominance faded with the Saints bringing their A-game. Tomahawk 4.1
According to most punters, the Sydney/Essendon clash at the SCG panned out as expected. A meritorious win the week before by the Dons counted for nothing. The Swans had it all over their opponents for the whole game, reducing Truck back to frustration at the collective Bomber effort. 20 point lead becomes a 38 point lead. A 51 point lead becomes a 58 point win. Finalists in 2021 were both teams. So far in 2022, the gap is wide.
A solid start by the Crows against the Lions in Adelaide got swallowed up by the Lions, until a major challenge and wrestling the lead by the Crows occurred midway in the 2nd. A 3 point lead to the Crows at the half became a 36 point Lion win after the gulf in class became apparent. Charlie Cameron 4 goals and Lachie Neale 36 touches led the way for the visitors. Laird, Hately and Keays led the stats count for the Crows. McAdam 3.
Suns hosted the Dockers in tropics in the Lachie Brownlow Weller Cup at Club Metricon. Odd, a game in Queensland in the wet! And yet Gold Coast managed to expose Freo’s achilles heel, playing in the wet. Maybe the Dockers just fell flat after quarter time, after the recent strong patch of form. Gold Coast’s lead extended out to 51 points before settling at a 36 point win. Captain Touk 34. Freo inaccurate, unable to handle wet.
GWS hosted Carlton on Sunday arvo in the Palmer-O’Hailpin-Whiley cup, Leon’s last drive in the Ferrari. Apart from drawing level close to half-time, the Blues kept control of the game with greater forward efficiency and more use of the ball. The Giants at times looked bereft of ideas, symbolic of their stop-start season thus far. A 30 point Blues win a fair reflection of the gap between the two sides. Kelly 36, Walsh 31.
Melbourne went to Perth to tackle the Eagles in the Watts-Naitanui-Armstrong Cup. The Dees had no intention of resting players, even though this was top v bottom in the AFL. And the result was as expected, a 74 point Dees win. 7.4 to 2.4 in the last quarter telling…59 to 35 inside 50s, 54% to 37% inside 50 scoring efficiency, 50% to 38% goal accuracy…the telltale signs, 47 to 19 in hitouts also helpful. Tom McMeat 4.
Cheers, PT
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE.
One-off financial contribution – CLICK HERE.
Regular financial contribution (monthly EFT) – CLICK HERE.
Leave a Comment